What Being “Smart” Has Taught Me.

(Just a heads up–I thought to myself last night, “Hey, if I need a better writing routine, why don’t I come up with a theme for my posts?” So I did just that! We will now be entering into a series titled, What (fill in the blank) Has Taught Me. Hope y’all enjoy it! I’ll try to do one or two a week!)

I am not here to boast or brag. I was brought up in a family that has always been very humble, and it has been something I’m glad I didn’t have to learn a hard way. But let’s be honest–I’m kind of smart. I do pretty well in school. Halfway through my high school career and I’m averaging just below a 3.9 GPA. I have this little thing called photographic memory, which is very helpful. But the only thing is, I don’t like being smart.

I don’t know if it’s our culture here in the good ol’ US of A, or what, but schools seem to only be geared around students excelling above and beyond. To the point where their schedule is more Advanced Placement classes, or actually attending college (dual enrollment). Being smart at a school where this is the mentality–go as far as possible, push yourself, achieve high scores–I find it very unhealthy to just be a student! I feel more like a number and less like a actual human. As if they care more about a perfect GPA than the individual students’ well-being.

So what exactly am I getting at? I guess what I’m saying is, I’m actually not smart. At least not the way the school system wants me to be. I didn’t sign up for all AP classes, I’m still deciding if dual enrollment is for me or not, and I’m okay if I get a B in a class, or just miss an A. Being “smart” sure, may get me scholarships or into an over-the-top college. But maybe I don’t want to go to an over-the-top college, where I’ll just end up with a huge amount of student loans. I could go to a really nice school, that isn’t all about their name and brand, get the same degree, for a heck of a lot less money. And I won’t be getting there based on my mental capacity, or my intellect. I’ll be getting there based on my own personal choice.

Being “smart” has taught me that in the end, this is my life to live. My choices. My opportunities. If I let an academic adviser plan my future out for me, then I’m just living their life. That’s not what I want. And to be perfectly honest, I’m not much different from the Average Joe. I just put effort in. That’s all I tell people: Stop yelling at me for getting a good grade. If you put as much effort in as I did, I bet your D could have been a B. Smarts to me, is about how much you want. It’s give and take. You get out as much as you put in.

With that being said, who wouldn’t want to put effort in for A’s? Anyone, Anyone, Bueller?